ASEAN, EU Urge Conflicting Parties To Return To Negotiating Table - Mohamad
From Fadzli Ramli
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 28 April (Bernama) -- The 25th ASEAN-European Union Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) urged conflicting parties worldwide to immediately return to the diplomatic negotiating table to end wars and restore free trade routes.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the call, made via an ASEAN-EU Joint Statement, was reached following a consensus among representatives of the two regions that current global conflicts are disrupting international supply chains.
He said discussions at the meeting were largely dominated by global geopolitical issues, as the ongoing tensions have had direct and negative effects, and brought no benefit to the economies of countries in both regions.
“We stated unanimously, and in the ASEAN–EU Joint Statement, clearly called on all parties to return to the negotiating table so that these wars can be brought to an end, and free trade routes as well as supply chains can function again,” he said.
He said this to Bernama and RTM on the sidelines of the 25th AEMM here today. The biennial meeting, which lasted two days, concluded today.
In facing global economic challenges, Mohamad said Malaysia has been vocal in championing trade transparency, strongly rejecting the tactic of using trade as a weapon to pressure certain countries.
He said Malaysia opposes the actions of certain parties who misuse international trade—such as the imposition of sanctions and restrictions—as a weapon of intimidation to pressure smaller nations whose economies depend on foreign trade.
“We do not want trade to be used as a weapon to pressure countries. Let trade be managed in the usual way as before, given that we have platforms such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO),” he stressed.
To realise a fair trade environment, the Foreign Minister said that member countries from both regions agreed that the multilateral system must be strengthened in order to reject the increasingly prevalent trend of unilateralism, thereby ensuring that any disputes can be resolved peacefully.
Touching on the future of cooperation, Mohamad said discussions also focused on efforts to elevate the current ASEAN–EU Strategic Partnership to the level of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
“This effort is in line with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of ASEAN–EU dialogue relations, which will be commemorated next year,” he said.
To mark this historic milestone, he said a commemorative summit will be organised in conjunction with the achievement of five decades of relations.
“Next year, Singapore will be the ASEAN Chair, and the summit will be held in Singapore,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
